Toy track game



April 21, 1953 E. FIELDS 2,636,114

TOY TRACK GAME Filed Mafch 9, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IN VEN TOR.

April 21, 1953 E. FIELDS 2,636,114

TOY TRACK GAME Filed March 9, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TRACK GAME Ernest Fields, New York, N. Y. Application March 9, 1951, Serial No. 214,780

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a toy track game for guiding two or more self-propelled vehicles over an endless track system without mutual inter- Terence. More particularly, the invention relates to a toy track game in which two or more selfpropelled vehicles traveling over an endless tworail track system including a cross-over section are automatically and alternately stopped and released so as to avoid collisions or other interferences between the vehicles.

One object of the present invention is to pro vide a toy track game of the general type, above referred to, including novel and improved control means which control the aforementioned alternate stoppage and release of the vehicles in a very simple and yet efl'lcient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy track game, the novel and improved control means of which comprise a single moving part secured to the track system so that the game can be inexpensively and conveniently manufactured.

Another object of the invention is a toy track game employing vehicles of standard design except for a single control member which serves to cooperate in the control of the alternate stoppage and release of the vehicles. The use of such vehicles further contributes to the simplicity of the manufacture of the game.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy track game which by reason of the intricate and surprising movements of the vehicles has a high play value and is capable of holding the attention of a playing child.

Another and further object, features and advantages of the invention will be pointedout hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a layout of a toy track game according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, showing one vehicle, in a position arrested by the control means.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, showing another vehicle just approaching the control means.

Fig. 6 shows the vehicle of Fig. 5 in a position arrested by the control means.

suitable material such as sheet metal.

Fig. '7 shows the vehicle of Fig. 4 just being released and ready for continued travel, and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 8 in detail, the endless track system according to the invention is formed on a base plate I0 which is flanged at l l to provide the necessary space underneath the base plate. The base plate can be made of any The track system is shown as being B-shaped. However, various other layouts of an endless track system may also be provided. According to the exemplification of the track system, the same is formed by two symmetrical track portions joined by a cross-over section, generally designated by |2.-

Each track portion comprises two concentrically arranged track sections [3, M and I3 and M respectively. As will be noted, each end of both outer track sections I3 and i3, is joined to a respective end of each inner track section I4 and it so that two continuous runways are formed which can be conveniently traced on Fig. 1.

All the track sections are shown as two-rail tracks which can be formed in base plate ID by any operation known for this purpose, for instance by dishing. As can best be seen on Fig. 8, the track sections are inwardly slanted to facilitate travel of the vehicles through the curves of which can be wound by a key. For the purpose L of releasing and braking the car motor a control gearll is provided which is in mesh with one of the driving gears of the motor such as gear 18 and is seated on the same axle 19 with a brake drum 20. This drum is engageable with one arm of a two-arm lever 2! which is pivoted to the body of the car and the other arm 22 of which extends from the car body and between the two rails of the various track sections. As long as the aforementioned lever can depend freely, the car motor is released. However, when pressure is exerted against lever arm 22 in the direction of travel of the vehicle the upper arm of the lever is held against the brake drum 20 so that the car motor is stopped. The lever or at least the Fig. 2 in full lines.

The control means according to the invention comprise a single support member movably secured to base plate Hi. This member is shown as a substantially triangularly shaped plate 25 pivoted by a pivot pin 26 to the underside of base plate ill. As can best be seen on Fig. 1, pin 25 is located substantially in the center of the entire track layout. Plate 25 supports thereon two pairs of symmetrical control elements 2?, 28 and 29, 39, respectively. Elements 2? and 29 constitute stopping elements and elements 28 and 30 serve as switching elements. As can best be seen on Fig. 2, the stopping elements are disposed parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle or transversely to the width of lever arm 22. The switching elements are disposed anteriorly to the stopping elements as seen in the direction of travel of the cars and at a right angle to the width. of lever arm 22. Furthermore, the switching elements ar laterally displaced relative to the stopping elements. All the four control elements protrude from plate 25 between the two rails of the respective track section. For this purpose slots 3! and 32 are provided for control elements 21 and 23 and slots 33 and 34 for control elements 29 and 3G. As will be noted, both the switching elements 28 and 30 have an extension 28' and 3%), respectively, disposed above th base plate for the purpose of preventing bending of baseplate 25. The four slots are so slanted that the support member can perform a limited pivotal. movement'about its pivot pin 25.

As will be noted, the two pairs of track control elements are so placed that each pair is in a track section adjacent to the cross-over section l2 and in a different one of the aforementioned two continuous runways. Tracingof the two runways will show that there are various possible positions for the control elements. For instance, the control elements 29 and. 30 may be in the track section in which they are shown and the control elements Z'l and 28 may be placed in the track section indicated at M. It is only essential'. that the control elements are so arranged that vehicles may travel without interference over the two runways provided, of course, the vehicles are alternately stopped and released as will be hereinafter explained. Finally, it is not necessary that the control elements are positioned adjacent. to the cross-over section, but such position will be generally preferable from a manufacturing viewpoint. I

The operation of a toy track game, as hereinbefore described, is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the two cars J5 and 15' are wound and placed ready for running in the directions indicated by the arrows upon thetwo runways and are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. Let it be further assumed that the four control elements occupy the positions shown in Then, arm 22 of the control lever 2t of car [5 is in. engagement with stopping element 21 so that car E5 is arrested as is shown in Fig. 4. When. now car !6 approaches the control elements 29 and 30, its arm 22 will first engage the slanted switching element 38. As a result, arm 22 exerts a camming action upon the switching element, more particularly upon the section 333' thereof, which c-amming action pivots plate 25 so that all the track control elements are moved into the respective positions indicated in Fig. 2 in dotted lines. Consequently, switching element 38 now clears: the path of arm 25 track 4 22 so that car it can continue its travel until its arm 22 reaches stopping element 29. Fig. 5 shows the position of car It in which arm 22 just has reached section 3!! of switching element 30. As soon as arm 22 of car 16 reaches stopping element 23 the car is arrested since the stopping element 29 is now moved into a position facing arm 22. Fig. 6 illustrates the arrested position of car It. It will be noted that Fig. 6 shows the same position of the control elements in relation to car it as does Fig- 4 in relation to car S5. The pivotal movement of plate 25 also places stopping element 271' into a position in which it clears arm 22 of car l5 while the switching element 28 is moved into a position ready for camming. Fig. '7 illustrates the position in which stopping element 2'! is moved out of the way of arm 22 of car 5. This car is now released and it will travel over cross-over section 42, inner track section [4' and outer track section 13 until it again reaches the stopping position in which it is shown on Fig. 1.. As soon as car l5 reaches this position, arm 22 of its control lever pivots support plate 25 back into the position in which. all the four control elements occupy the positions shown in Fig. 2 in full lines. Consequently, car

i5 is now released and the previously explainedbe understood by those skilled in the art'xafter understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims. it

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy track game of the type in which at least two self-propelled vehicles are arranged to travel over an endless two-rail track system ineluding. a cross-over section, each. of said vehicles: having a control element depending from the. vehicle body between the two rails of the track system, and. in. which control means alternately stop and release the said vehicles, the pr vision of. improved control means comprising two pairs of control elements, one element of each pair constituting a stoppingelement and the other a switching element, and a supporting member for the said four elements pivotally mounted on. said track system substantially level therewith and in a position in which thertwo elements of each pair protrude between the'two rails of different branches of the endless track system, said track control elements being arranged on the support member in relative'positions in which each switching element is anterior in the direction of travel of the vehicles andin which always the switching element of one pair is in a position. engageable with the vehicle:

control element and the stopping element of the said pair in a release position and the switchingelcment of the: other pair in a non-engages.

position and the stopping element of the said pair in a stopping position, whereby a moving vehicle approaching one of'said pairs of control.

elements and engaging the respective switching element moves the support member into a position in which the stopping element of the same pair is placed in its stopping position, and the switching element of the other pair in its engageable position and the stopping element of the latter pair in its release position, thus arresting the said approaching vehicle and releasing a vehicle stopped by the stopping element of the respective pair.

2. A toy track game as defined in claim 1, wherein said track system is in form of two curved open track portions, each of said track portions comprising an inner and an outer track section, each end of the inner sections being joined by said cross-over section with the respective end of an outer section, thereby forming two continuous runways each constituted by the inner section of one track portion and the outer section of the other track portion.

3. A toy track game as defined in claim 2, wherein the said endless track system is substantially G-shaped, the outer and inner sections of the two track portions being substantially concentrically arranged, and wherein one pair of said track control elements is disposed in one of said continuous runways and the second pair in the other runway.

4. A toy track game as defined in claim 3, wherein each pair of said control elements is disposed in an outer track section adjacent to said cross-over section, the said cross-over section joining the two portions of the B-shaped track system, and wherein said support member is pivoted to the center of the 8-shaped system.

5. A toy track game as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member is pivoted to the track system, and wherein the switching element of each pair is slanted relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle and disposed in a position in which the control element of a moving vehicle slidably engages the respective switching element and pivots the support member into a position in which the engaged switching element clears the path of the respective vehicle control element and in which the other track control elements are moved from one of the aforesaid respective positions into the other aforesaid respective positions, whereby the approaching vehicle is arrested and the other vehicle is released.

6. A toy track game as defined in claim 5, wherein each switching element is laterally displaced relative to the respective stopping element as seen in the direction of the vehicles.

7. A toy track game as defined in claim 1, wherein said track system is formed on a base plate, and wherein said support member is plateshaped and pivoted to the underside of said base plate, the said base plate having slots there through from which said track control elements protrude between the two rails of the respective tracks, the edges of the base plate defining the said slots limiting the pivotal movements of the support member.

ERNEST FIELDS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,034,701 Fleming et a] Aug. 6, 1912 2,106,424 Einfalt Jan. 25, 1938 2,171,634 Rexford et a1. Sept. 5, 1939 2,416,473 Fields Feb, 25, 1947 

